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A BUHERA chief on Monday successfully sued one of his subjects for $5 000 after he undermined his powers during a court session.
Chief Elijah Muchini Chamutsa appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Noah Gwatidzo, applying for $5 000 as damages against his subject, Sylvester Bhegedhe, who had ridiculed him in the presence of other subjects after he had fined him to pay seven beasts for an offence he had committed.
In his submissions, Chief Chamutsa told the court that on June 2, 2015, Bhegedhe insulted him before about 30 villagers during a court session.
The respondent, Bhegedhe was accusing Chief Chamutsa of passing a hefty fine of seven beasts against him in a case he had presided over in June.
Bhegedhe also accused Chief Chamutsa of conniving with his advisers to a pass judgment of seven beasts against him so that they would share the cattle among themselves.
The court heard that Bhegedhe shouted demeaning words at Chief Chimutsa with the intention of embarrassing him.
On June 10, Bhegedhe approached Chief Chumutsa accompanied by a police officer based at Muzokomba Police Station demanding the reversing of the seven beast judgement. Bhegedhe proceeded to hurl insults and defaming words at Chief Chamutsa.
Chief Chamutsa said Bhegedhe stopped him from boarding his motor vehicle by blocking the door way, demanding the instant reversal of the chief’s judgment.
“He shouted obscenities at me and I was only saved by my subjects who stopped him from attacking me,” said Chief Chamutsa.
Bhegedhe absconded from Monday’s court hearing and a default judgement was granted against him.
Chief Chamutsa’s legal representative, Mr Langton Mhungu of Mhungu, Matutu, Kwirira Legal Practitioners, said Bhegedhe deserved a harsh penalty for undermining the authority of the chief.
“Your Worship, there is need for restoration of integrity in our courts. The courts should not fold their hands when the some members of the community are undermining their authority. What Bhegedhe did is unacceptable and I am praying that the respondent should pay $5 000 to the complainant for defaming him. The defendant again made a false report to the police lying that Chief Chamutsa stole his beasts.
“Absent from this court, Your Worship is a sign that the complainant is admitting that he is guilty of the charge,” said Mr Mhungu.
Mr Gwatidzo granted the $5 000 civil suit to Chief Chamutsa.
Online Reporter